STEVE MCCLELLAN

Articles by Stephen All articles by Stephen

• IBM Taps Stagwell As Its New Creative Partner in MAD on 06/30/2026
  

  The appointment follows a three-decade relationship with WPP's Ogilvy, which opted not to participate in IBM's creative review launched earlier this year.

• Holdco Vet Mildenhall Joins WPP Production in MAD on 06/30/2026
  

  He joins from Omnicom Production, where he served as Chief Client Officer working with clients like Amazon, Apple, ExxonMobil, HP, Kenvue, Nissan, Pfizer and Sony PlayStation.

• Schafer Condon Carter Wins Navy Pier Media, Creative Duties in MAD on 06/30/2026
  

  A new ad campaign will showcase the diversity of experiences available across the Pier and invites travelers to discover new reasons to visit and engage with the "People's Pier" throughout the year.

• Klick Health Acquires Oxford PhramaGenesis in MAD on 06/30/2026
  

  The announcement follows Klick's being crowned both Healthcare Agency Of The Year and Healthcare Network Of The Year at the Cannes Lions festival.

• Day 5 Cannes Lions Awards: Two Claude SB Ads Win Film Grand Prix in MAD on 06/26/2026
  

  The ads humorously promote Anthropic's no-ad policy in its Claude AI platform, suggesting other AI platforms should follow suit.

• Macron Addresses Lions Festival On Its Final Night in MAD on 06/26/2026
  

  The French president delivered a video address after France received the Cannes Lions Country Of The Year Award.

• Daryl Lee Stepping Down From Chairman's Role At McCann in MAD on 06/26/2026
  

  The move completes the planned leadership transition to Tyler Turnbull, who succeeded Lee as CEO of McCann when Omnicom completed its acquisition of Interpublic late last year.

• WPP Veteran Chris Wade Joins Reuters To Lead Communications in MAD on 06/26/2026
  

  Wade left WPP amid last year's regime change when Cindy Rose replaced Mark Read as CEO.

• Carat Wins Cannes Lions Media Network Honors in MAD on 06/26/2026
  

  The Media Network of the Year award is won by the network whose agencies accrue the most points for shortlisted and awarded entries in the Media Lions.

• Superstition + Lucky Fan Index = Grand Prix in MAD on 06/25/2026
  

  The creative challenge was to harness soccer fan superstition that their presence at matches brings luck, thereby upping attendance and ticket sales.

Comments by Stephen All comments by Stephen

• Interpublic's R/GA Taken Private By Truelink Capital by Steve McClellan (MAD on 03/03/2025)
  

  Good question, Scott. Not disclosed so far. 

• International Advertising Association Establishes North American Chapter by Richard Whitman (Mediapsssst on 03/17/2023)
  

  Michael, the IAA has had a New York chapter but has never had a North America chapter. This will encompass all of the US, Canada and Mexico, according to the group. Thank you for rasing the point as the article should have provided that background. 

• How Much Does Gun Advertising Contribute To All The Killing? by Richard Whitman (Mediapsssst on 06/01/2022)
  

  Steve, here is a link to the NYT story referrenced in the Whitman column. It does not show the videogame type ads described in the piece. It does link to a Daniel Defense ad featuring children. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/28/business/daniel-defense-rifle-texas-shooting-gun.html?searchResultPosition=1

• New Era At Accenture Interactive As Droga Is Poised To Take The Reins by Richard Whitman (Mediapsssst on 08/23/2021)
  

  Oops, thanks for pointing that out John.

• 4A's Creates Agency Review Participation Agreement by Richard Whitman (Mediapsssst on 08/24/2021)
  

  Hi Michael, I think you're right--an effort to make clients aware agencies have major issues with the current process, particularly when the client doesn't retain professional help with the search. No power per se. 

• Agency Review Activity Spikes After Quiet 2020 by Steve McClellan (MAD on 07/09/2021)
  

  Hi Michael, the $544 million figure is a net figure that does take into account losses. No doubt marketers are pressing for lower fees/prices whereever they can find them, with all suppliers. But the spike probably does reflect the fact that marketers put off reviews last year to deal with other more pressing COVID-related issues. 

• Imagine A Pro Sports Team Called The 'New York Jews' by Richard Whitman (Mediapsssst on 07/13/2020)
  

  Ed, I think the hockey team has a claim on the Capitals name there, although St. Louis had both a baseball Cardinals and a football Cardinals for some time. To your broader point, yeah, there are a lot options for non-offensive names. 

• Despite Rumors To The Contrary, Manly Men Drink Rose by Richard Whitman (Mediapsssst on 08/06/2017)
  

  Thanks Nicholas, as editor of this column I should have caught that. Appreciate that you did. 

• Brands Failing To Provide Quality Training In Media Skills by Steve McClellan (MAD on 10/28/2016)
  

  It is J.R., although it's usually not referred to as 'educatiing' and frequently it is people below the c suite. But often agencies meet with clients to 'brief' them on this or that issue. Which makes sense given that the former are supposed to be experts in the field. 

• Agencies React To Finger-Pointing, 4As Calls ANA Report Anonymous, One-Sided by Steve McClellan (MAD on 06/07/2016)
  

  Thanks for catching that Michael, now fixed.

About Edit

You haven't told us anything about yourself! Surely you've got something to say. Tell us a little something.